On Nov. 9, the University of Utah took its sponsorship and funding away from Mecha de U of U, a student organization that organizes for the empowerment of marginalized students on campus.

This started on Nov. 1, when the Young Americans for Freedom held a viewing of an offensive movie featuring accounts of children claiming they’d been tricked into transitioning. Following Mecha’s peaceful protest, protected under the First Amendment, they received a letter stating they’d violated YAF’s right to freedom of speech and are no longer sponsored by the U.

This double standard sends an unsettling message about the moral values the U upholds, especially considering its impact on students of color and their groups on campus.

CESB’s Inadequate Reasoning

It’s growing increasingly clear the U prioritizes the protection of hate speech over the right to protest against it under the First Amendment.

The Office of the Dean said the law does not define hate speech. This gives too much leeway to groups like YAF, even when they make hateful transphobic statements. As a university, this needs to change. The U should have a clearer definition of hate speech, which would reduce instances of hate on campus.

Instead, the U proceeded to avoid accountability behind even more vague language in the letter withdrawing sponsorship and funding. The letter failed to examine a particular reason for punishment other than “engaging in behaviors that infringe on the First Amendment rights of other University of Utah Students to express their views.”

In addition to taking away Mecha’s funding, the U also canceled Mecha’s high school outreach conference. The cancellation robbed aspiring students of color of the chance to be part of a community that provides them with much-needed representation. The canceled event strived for inclusivity and promoted togetherness and safety. This event differs greatly from the divisiveness YAF seeks to promote, especially when they put up transphobic posters.

This shows a clear pattern where the University prioritizes protecting white student groups over groups advocating for students of color. Christopher Loera-Peña, a Mecha member, said, “We put out a flier recently for our Armed Queers event. The university wanted to meet with us and censor us, have meetings with us, but none of that ever happened with the Young Americans for Freedom.”

The ease with which the U took action against Mecha puts into question the U’s commitment to inclusivity and exposes their disregard for a safe student body culture. These decisions affect more than individual organizations — they shape the diversity of voices across the university community.

As long as the U continues to protect hate speech, groups like Mecha should have a complete right to protest attacks on their communities.

Influence on Advocacy Groups

The U’s decisions set a precedent that strips power from students of color. This situation extends beyond Mecha, involving advocacy groups such as the Arab Student Association, who have voiced their solidarity with Mecha and may now be evaluating their own relationships with the university. This can create a ripple effect, prompting other organizations to either conform to the U’s standards or get lost.

“If you’re a group on campus and you are on that side, you have much more safety on campus,” Loera-Peña said in reference to YAF’s support of Israel.

The U must stop attempting to appeal to everyone at the expense of its marginalized students.

“I think the university overall tries to maintain its reputation and public image just to keep profits high. And, you know, the work that Mecha’s doing … we’re actively standing up for students,” Loera-Peña said.

Empowering Student Action

Looking at all these concerns, Loera-Peña emphasized the importance of collective action.

“Now is the time to stand up, make your voice heard, take action,” he said. Nothing’s going to change if we just sit idly by. We need to get organized, get involved.”

To respond to this call to action, students can join existing advocacy groups on campus like Students for a Democratic Society or Mecha. Students can also participate in community events posted on the groups’ Instagram pages.

In joining this approach, students can create a sense of unity that goes beyond individual concerns. By participating and making their voices heard, students contribute to a campus culture that reflects inclusivity, diversity and a shared commitment to shaping a better future for all.

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